5 remakes looking to outperform originals

By Jason Cirone

Monday

Mar 5, 2018 at 12:01 AM

In the movie industry, remakes and reboots have become a way of business for major studios.

Often there is fine division between the creative side of filmmaking and the money side of things, which drives the direction of which projects get made. As of right now, there are tons of remakes as well as reboots of movies in development.

With that many projects being cultivated, it shows that the industry expects a large amount of financial success. So let’s take a look at five big remakes coming out over the next year and how they might perform.

The Grinch

Release date: Nov. 9, 2018

This is one that we all recognize. Now, this will not be another live action version, but a computer-animated feature, a first for the story. The folks at Illumination Entertainment have their work cut out for them. Being the original animated short film was 26 minutes long, the live action version the new film will have to add new plot devices to get a feature length runtime. That shouldn’t be too difficult if you have the right writers. The best thing this film has going for it is Benedict Cumberbatch is doing the voice of the Grinch. I would think this movie will be a hit.

Overboard

Release Date: April 13, 2018

Some might not remember the original film starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Hawn played a mean upscale lady who loses her memory after an accident and Russell is a carpenter who convinces Hawn’s amnesiac character that the two of them are married. The remake switches the roles: Anna Faris’ role is doing the tricking and Eugenio Derbez is the guy being played. If it’s anything like the original, it should be funny and worth the time to watch.

A Star Is Born

Release Date: Oct. 5, 2018

This film has been given the remake treatment before. The original came out in 1937 and its remakes in 1954 and 1976. For the fourth time around, the leads are played by Lady Gaga (yes, you read that correctly) and Bradley Cooper. Though the names are different, the plot remains the same. Cooper’s character is a movie star with a career that is drying up, who decides to help start the career of a singer and actress played by Gaga. You could probably expect this to be a very musical film. We’ll have to see how audiences will accept it.

Hellboy

Release Date: Jan. 11, 2019

I always found the first two Hellboy movies to be imaginative and a feast for the eyes. But alas, they didn’t make the money that the studio wanted and the third entry that fans have wanted will never be made. Instead, the studio has opted to start all over with a whole new cast and director. The success of this reboot depends on how much the fans embrace it. The new cast looks well suited: David Harbour from Stranger Things is set to play Hellboy and Milla Jovovich is set to play the villain of the film, the Blood Queen. I’m looking forward to this remake and I hope it is something good.

Robin Hood

Release Date: Nov. 21, 2018

It’s time for another Robin Hood! This doesn’t surprise me, though, since the story of Robin Hood is timeless and loved. This time around, the story is focusing on a younger version of the character, at the beginning of his noble mission. The cast is stout with Taron Egerton as Robin Hood, Jamie Foxx as Little John, Eve Hewson as Marian and the talented Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham. If this film wants to standout from all the other remakes, it’s going to have to have a certain level of freshness. I think it has potential, though, and look forward to the first trailer.